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Melissa Monroe (USA)

International Artist

Melissa Monroe (USA)

International Artist

Melissa is a full-time artist and single mother of 3 kids under the age of 10. From and living in Portland, Oregon. She started painting late 2013 and became full time just the year after. Melissa starts painting without a plan or a sketch. She builds colors and layering shapes until she successfully pulls a figure forward to end up with an expressionism painting or an abstract one.

Melissa was introduced to the art world by the artist, Jesse Reno who was painting a wall mural in the coffee shop she was working at the time. Jesse and Melissa started to paint together and through this daily practice she learnt the method of painting.

Exhibitions

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Biography

Melissa is a full-time artist and single mother of 3 kids under the age of 10. From and living in Portland, Oregon. She started painting late 2013 and became full time just the year after. Melissa paints every day and has created over 1000 paintings with the majority sold to private collectors around the world. Painting is clearly her passion and she says it has changed her life.

Melissa starts painting without a plan or a sketch. She builds colors and layering shapes until she successfully pulls a figure forward to end up with an expressionism painting or an abstract one. Her body of work is constantly evolving into characters and compositions keeping her inspired and true to her organic process.

Melissa is a self taught artist. She grew up in a religious household with no art on the walls. Music was her main creative escape as well as doing some pottery at school. Melissa was introduced to the art world by the artist, Jesse Reno who was painting a wall mural in the coffee shop she was working at the time. Jesse and Melissa started to paint together and through this daily practice she learnt the method of painting. Melissa says that painting gave her the courage to change her life and find new happiness and purpose in life.

Artist Statement

My artwork is an emotional display, vulnerable for anyone to see. Figures showing their authentic selves to find themselves, behind their outward appearance they hide; look closely and they become a mirror into who you are. Landscapes that take you on a journey into the past and future. A history of a land that no-one can remember, a place that has been forgotten and a puzzle to learn the future.

The rawness in my art comes from a real struggle of not being able to draw a straight line. To this day I cannot “draw” traditionally and I am not able to understand dimension and proportions.

This gives my art the quality even a trained artist cannot accomplish. Through the rawness in my work comes pure emotion and vulnerability.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2017, ‘Old Circus Is Dead’, True Measure Gallery, Portland, OR, United States
2017 ‘Remove your mask and throw it in the sea’, P:ear, Portland, OR, United States
2016 The Albina Press, Portland, OR, United States
2016 Space Monkey, Portland, OR, United States
2016 Crema, Portland, OR, United States
2015 ‘Why is it colder at the top of the mountain if it is closer to the sun?’, Roll Up Gallery, Portland, OR, United States
2015 ‘After birth’, Nebraska Gallery, Portland, OR, United States
2015 Alberta Abbey, Portland, OR, United States
2015 Float On Art Gallery, Portland, OR, United States